Cosmetology at Greenville Technical College

Greenville, SC · Public · Certificate · Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services

enrolling 8,171 students in Greenville, SC.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $15,778/yr, roughly in line with the $17,289 national median for Cosmetology. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 48.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 40% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Cosmetology career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

At #114 of 1,095 programs, this Cosmetology program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.

The $15,778-to-$25,889 earnings arc over five years reflects a 64% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 5 apprenticeship pathways connected to Cosmetology reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

46 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
39
Low End
46
Score
47
High End
Earnings $15,778/yr (-9% vs median)
AI-Proof Resilient (76% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (145,700 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$277K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
49.1x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
8 of 8
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$5,639
Out-of-state: $10,657
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$25,889
64% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Cosmetology graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Personal service managers, all other $61,340 +6.5% 48%
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance $50,280 +8.1% 66%
First-line supervisors of personal service workers $47,080 +6.7% 59%
Personal service managers, all other
$61,340
+6.5% growth 48% AI-proof
Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
$50,280
+8.1% growth 66% AI-proof
First-line supervisors of personal service workers
$47,080
+6.7% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 8 career paths with full salary data →

Cosmetology Career Guide

Cosmetology opens doors to multiple career tracks. Our pillar guide covers every mapped occupation with salary data and AI resilience ratings.

Read the full Cosmetology career guide →

Compare & Explore

Cosmetology Overview

Cosmetology at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Greenville Technical College's Cosmetology program score?
A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Cosmetology. Earnings, ROI, or job market factors are pulling the score down.
Can I learn Cosmetology through an apprenticeship instead of Greenville Technical College?
Beyond Greenville Technical College's classroom route, 5 registered apprenticeships map to Cosmetology careers — including Barber. Apprenticeships trade shorter program length for longer on-the-job training, typically 2-4 years.
What's the AI uncertainty for Cosmetology careers?
AI sensitivity is moderate-to-notable: a 40% difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes. The base case — our most likely scenario — falls between these extremes.
How many job openings are there for Cosmetology graduates?
The very large job market (145,700 annual openings) works in favor of Cosmetology graduates. The national outlook is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth, though regional variation matters.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →